WASHINGTON, N.C. (WITN) - A Washington horse rescue farm is speaking out after taking in four malnourished horses from a Beaufort County woman now facing multiple counts of animal cruelty and abandonment.

Pitt County deputies arrested 27-year-old Autum Johnson on Friday. According to warrants, Johnson abandoned several horses and chickens for at least three days without food or veterinary care. Investigators say four chickens died in her care.

The four horses were taken to Nay Nay’s Peace of Heaven Horse Rescue Farm in Washington by Pitt County Animal Control. Farm owner Patricia Everett says one horse, named Paint, was in such poor condition that he had to be put down the day after arriving.

“The vet came out and said he was too weak to get up. I fixed him a full bucket of feed, let

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